Colon cancer is the third most common cancer in the United States and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Early detection significantly improves treatment outcomes and quality of life for patients, yet the disease’s subtle symptoms are often overlooked or mistaken for less serious conditions. Recognizing the early warning signs of colon cancer can be a lifesaving step.

Before we delve into the early signs of colon cancer, let’s understand it.

What is colon cancer?

Colon cancer, also known as colorectal cancer, starts in the colon (large intestine) or rectum, which are parts of the digestive system. It typically begins as small, benign clumps of cells called polyps that can turn cancerous over time. Not all polyps become malignant, however, those that do often grow silently, and show few signs until the disease advances.

Some of the factors that increase the risk of include age, family history of colorectal cancer, personal history, alcohol consumption, smoking, lifestyle, and obesity.

What are the early signs of colon cancer?

The early symptoms can be deceptively mild, and often mistaken for other illnesses. Males are more at risk than females of getting and dying from , as per the CDC.